request, for he knew that these fellows in this country, highwayman or
Nightrider, were as desperate in character as the most blackened
criminal the world holds. He got quietly down.

"Now," said the captor, "turn yer back to me."

Reluctantly Wade did this very thing. He had some little misgivings in
doing so, for he might be shot in the back.

Not so. The midnight marauder merely took his pistols from his pockets,
placed them in the saddle-bags and got quietly upon the horse. Turning
to Wade, who stood disconsolate, he said: "I'll return yer hoss,
stranger, an' thank ye fer the use o' him, till I can git one o' my
own." Then he galloped off as though nothing had taken place, never
looking back again.

Awe-struck and indignant, Wade stood beneath the shining stars for one
moment just as he had been left, gazing intently after the fast fleeing
horse and his mysterious rider, then resumed his journey on foot. He
reproached himself that he was a great "mummy," that he had come into
this country on an errand of revenge and had placed himself more than a
half dozen times right between the jaws of his enemies, between the
snapping jaws of death. He figured that fate must have thrown a strong
guard around his life to save him for a special purpose. All these
thoughts came into his mind as he trudged weary and footsore across the
rugged country, picking his way as best he could under the
circumstances.

Instead of trying to make his way direct to Conover's farm, he turned in
the direction of his own home, and at some time just before daybreak
pulled up at Peter Judson's gate, where he "helloed" until old Peter,
with rifle in hand, showed himself at the door and cried:

"Who air ye, that wants ter bother a feller at sich a time o' ther
mornin'?"

"Wade," came the reply.

"Oh!" exclaimed Peter. "Come on in, boy. What'n thunder brings ye at
sich a hour as this?"

"Didn't you see the fire?" returned Wade.

"Sure. Did ye think I didn't know it would be?"

"I didn't know," replied Wade, "but I thought I'd tell you that Fred
Conover has been killed, and----"

"Thunder, ye say!" interrupted Peter. "Thunder, ye say!" he repeated.
"What do yer mean by tellin' me that, Wade; is it really true?"

"It is really true, Judson, and I thought I'd come by and get Tom to go
over to Conover's with me to give the news."

"Ye needn't, Wade; they'll have it long afore ye kin git thar with it,
an' besides ye cain't git Tom fer anyt